A Sydney Adventist Hospital surgeon is encouraging women to resume their regular health checks after a decline in cancer screening rates during the pandemic.
San breast cancer surgeon Dr Sandra Krishnan said it’s important now to get assessed as healthcare facilities re-open to non-emergency patients.
A report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (Cancer screening and COVID-19 in Australia) shows that between January and June 2020 there were 144,982 fewer mammographs than in previous years. Figures for 2021 are not yet published but are expected to show the continuation of lower screening rates.
“We know from pre-pandemic data how many breast lesions are detected in a day, so after this significant slowdown in screening it’s crucial that we catch up with as many women as possible,” said Dr Krishnan.
